Great Waterfront Trail Adventure bike tour rides through Amherstburg

Riders on the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure met town crier Norm Ross during their recent stop in Amherstburg.

Over 100 cyclists from across Canada and the United States were in Amherstburg earlier this month as part of a launch of Canada’s newest binational cycling destination. 

The 2026 Great Waterfront Trail Adventure (GWTA) went through Windsor, Essex County and Pelee Island and, for the first time, across the Gordie Howe 

The launch marks four years of crossborder collaboration to connect and promote cycling experiences in WindsorEssex and southeast Michigan. At the centre of the network is the Gordie Howe International Bridge, whose multiuse path establishes the first signed international crossing of both the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail and the Trans Canada Trail.

Riders came from not just Essex County and Windsor, but from Thunder Bay, Thessalon, Ontario; Red Deer, Alberta; Winnipeg, Manitoba; and Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio and Florida.

“The youngest cyclist was 20 and the oldest is 87,” said Marlaine Koehler, executive director of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust.

The ride has been running 18 years.

The binational initiative brought together the Waterfront Regeneration Trust, Trans Canada Trail, Southeast Michigan Community Foundation and Michigan Department of Natural Resources, alongside municipalities, tourism organizations, trail partners and the WindsorDetroit Bridge Authority.

While in Amherstburg, riders stopped at the Rotary clock tower and stayed in the area for lunch and a brief visit to the town.

As part of the initiative, Trans Canada Trail has also added the first international border crossing to its nationwide network and expanded its network through Leamington and onto Pelee Island.

“We hold the ride to showcase and celebrate progress on the vision for the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail. It moves each year. It has helped demonstrate that the Trail is an exceptional cycle tourism experience and establish its reputation as such. In 2026, we came to Windsor Essex to celebrate the Trail's first international connection with the Gordie Howe International Bridge. In 2022, we entered into a partnership with Trans Canada Trail, State of Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources and Southeast Michigan Community Foundation to connect our collective trails using the Bridge and create binational trail experiences. Working with Tourism Windsor Essex and Pelee Island, City of Windsor, County of Essex, its member communities, and ERCA, we created a series of signed looped cycle tourism experiences, installed over 1,000 signs and established three trailheads for the binational network. All to say that is why Windsor Essex had to be the location for the 2026 ride,” said Koehler.

Koehler added that while in Amherstburg, riders “loved the heritage waterfront and quaint shops and variety of restaurants and coffee shops. Our riders lingered at the rest stop and the town’s tourism team made that easy by offering a secure bike corral for cyclists.” 

Brent Kinnaird added: “Riders loved stopping in Amherstburg- it was a welcome visit after more than 60km in the saddle. The staff hospitality was first class - even offering a secure bike corral for riders to leave their bike worry free, so they could have lunch and explore the town’s shops, waterfront pier and historic charm.”

“Connecting communities has always been at the heart of the Trans Canada Trail,” said Meghan Reddick, chief communications and marketing officer with Trans Canada Trail. “This partnership is the perfect illustration of how trails can connect communities and inspire unity.”

Across the Detroit River, cyclists were able to connect to an impressive and growing network of trails, greenways, waterfront parks and public spaces. 

The ride ran from Aug. 10–14 and Great Waterfront Trail Adventure (GWTA) participants explored Windsor, Essex County and Pelee Island, and portions of Detroit. 

“The GWTA has always been about showing what becomes possible when communities connect their waterfronts and trails,” said Koehler. “For more than 30 years, the Waterfront Regeneration Trust has worked with communities to turn local waterfront investments into a connected Great Lakes experience. This year, we get to demonstrate that idea on an international scale.”

The new binational cycling destination builds on years of investment by communities, the County of Essex, the Essex Region Conservation Authority and trail organizations on both sides of the border. Together, these connections offer a rare opportunity to experience two countries, two cities and dozens of waterfront communities as one Great Lakes cycling destination.

Great Waterfront Trail Adventure bike tour rides through Amherstburg

By RTT Staff